Self-Locking Fastener

ABSTRACT

A self-locking fastener includes a base member and a clip member. The base member includes a buckle base, a buckle point and a buckle pin. The clip member includes a plurality of resilient locking arms disposed toward one side thereof. When the clip member is coupled to the base member, the buckle point of the base member extends out along the resilient locking arms. The resilient locking arms are fitted on the buckle pin. Free ends of the resilient locking arms lean against the inner end of the buckle point to stop the buckle point from sliding out along the resilient locking arms. Through the resilient locking arms and the buckle point, the free ends of the resilient locking arms are to lean against the inner end of the buckle point to achieve a self-locking connection of the base member and the clip member. The structure of present invention is simple. When packing a product, the two sheets of material are only required to have holes. The buckle point is inserted through the holes and coupled to the clip member so as to fix the two sheets of material. When detached, the connection of the buckle point and the buckle pin is cut off so as to detach the base member from the clip member. It is easy and convenient to use and operate the present invention, without the need to use a special apparatus. This can lower the packing cost.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a self-locking fastener, and moreparticularly to one capable of connecting two sheets of material.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A popular way to package a consumer product is to use so called“Clamshell,” which consists of two clear plastic materials with theproduct in the middle. The two plastics are vacuum-formed in the shapeof the product, and the edges are sealed with special welding machines.The two pieces can also be vacuum-formed together in one piece with thebottom folded leaving the other three sides open for sealing. Theadvantages of clamshell are the clear material displays the productwithout having to open the package, and security of product as onecannot open it without breaking the clamshell.

The disadvantage of the clamshell is having to use a special weldingmachine to weld the two pieces together. This calls for an investment inmachinery and welding fixtures. For small volume users, this might proveto be economically impossible. Occasionally, staples are used to connectthe two clear plastic, it gives a very poor image on the product. Eventhough clamshells provide very good protection for the product, openinga clamshell can be a tough job for the consumer if the edges arecompletely sealed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a self-lockingfastener so as to overcome the problems of the prior art.

In order to achieve the aforesaid object, the self-locking fastener ofthe present invention comprises a base member and a clip member. Thebase member comprises a buckle base, a buckle point and a buckle pinwhich is connected between the buckle base and the buckle point. Theclip member comprises a plurality of resilient locking arms disposedtoward one side thereof. The plurality resilient locking arms are usedto lean against an inner end of the buckle point. When the clip memberis coupled to the base member, the buckle point of the base memberextends out along the resilient locking arms. The resilient locking armsare fitted on the buckle pin. Free ends of the resilient locking armslean against the inner end of the buckle point to stop the buckle pointfrom sliding out along the resilient locking arms.

Preferably, the clip member has a through hole. The resilient lockingarms are tilted from an inner edge of the through hole toward the sameside of the clip member. The free ends of the resilient locking armssurround the through hole to define a passage for insertion of thebuckle point.

Preferably, the resilient locking arms each have a curved guide surface.

Preferably, the resilient locking arms are tilted in a fan-shapedconfiguration, and the joint of the resilient locking arms and the inneredge of the through hole is gradually narrowed.

Preferably, the buckle point is a sphere.

Preferably, gaps are formed between the abutted resilient locking armsto reinforce deformation of the resilient locking arms.

Preferably, the buckle pin has a base portion and a connection portionwhich extends from the base portion and is tapered toward the bucklepoint. The base portion is integrally formed with the buckle base. Theconnection portion is connected with the buckle point.

The joint of the connection portion and the buckle point has a widthsmaller than that of the buckle point. The buckle point has an engagingportion at the inner end thereof for the resilient locking arms to leanagainst thereat.

Preferably, the base portion has a plurality of reinforcement ribsextending from an outer wall thereof.

Preferably, the base member and the clip member 20 are made of plastic.

Compared to the prior art, the present invention has the followingadvantages.

1. The clip member is provided with the plurality of resilient lockingarms which are disposed in the same direction and the base member isprovided with the buckle point. The free ends of the resilient lockingarms are to lean against the inner end of the buckle point to achieve aself-locking connection of the base member and the clip member. Thestructure of present invention is simple. When packing a product, thetwo sheets of material are only required to have holes. The buckle pointis inserted through the holes and coupled to the clip member so as tofix the two sheets of material. When detached, the connection of thebuckle point and the buckle pin is cut off so as to detach the basemember from the clip member. It is easy and convenient to use andoperate the present invention, without the need to use a specialapparatus. This can lower the packing cost.

2. The buckle pin is provided with the reinforcement ribs to enhance theconnection of the buckle base and the buckle pin, such that the basemember and the clip member can be connected firmly and reliably toenhance the quality of packing.

3. The resilient locking arms each have the curved guide surface tocooperate the spherical buckle point, so that the buckle point caneasily slide out from the passage surrounded by the free ends of theresilient locking members. The assembly is simple and quick.

4. The connection portion of the buckle pin is integrally formed withthe buckle point, and the width of the connection portion is tapedtoward the buckle point. The width of the joint of the connectionportion and the buckle point is thinner, so that the joint of the bucklepoint and the buckle pin can be cut off to separate the base member andthe clip member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view according to the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view according to the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention when in use;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view according to the preferred embodimentof the present invention when in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, the self-locking fastener accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a basemember 10 and a clip member 20 mounted to the base member 10.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the base member 10 is made of plastic.The base member 10 comprises a buckle base 11, a buckle point 12, and abuckle pin 13 which is connected between the buckle base 11 and thebuckle point 12. The buckle base 11 is in a disk shape. The buckle point12 is a sphere. The shape of the buckle point 12 is not limited to asphere, which can be a cone or other shapes. The spherical buckle point12 is conveniently mounted to the clip member 20. The buckle pin 13 hasa base portion 131 and a connection portion 132 which extends from thebase portion 131 and is tapered toward the buckle point 12. The baseportion 131 is integrally formed with the buckle base 11. The connectionportion 132 is connected with the buckle point 12. The joint of theconnection portion 132 and the buckle point 12 has a width smaller thanthat of the buckle point 12. The buckle point 12 has an engaging portion121 at an inner end thereof. The joint of the connection portion 132 andthe buckle point 12 is thin, so that the buckle point 12 can be cut offfrom the buckle pin 13. The base portion 131 has a plurality ofreinforcement ribs 14 extending from an outer wall thereof. Through thereinforcement ribs 14, the connection of the buckle base 11 and thebuckle pin 13 is reinforced.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the clip member 20 is made of plastic.The clip member 20 comprises a plurality of resilient locking arms 21disposed toward one side thereof. The plurality of resilient lockingarms 21 are used to lean against the engaging portion 121 at the innerend of the buckle point 12. In this embodiment, the clip member 20 has athrough hole 201. The resilient locking arms 21 are tilted from an inneredge of the through hole 201 toward the same side of the clip member 20.Free ends of the resilient locking arms 21 surround the through hole 201to define a passage 202 for insertion of the buckle point 12. Theresilient locking arms 21 are tilted in a fan-shaped configuration. Theresilient locking arms 21 each have a curved guide surface to guide thespherical buckle point 12 to slide out from the passage 202. The jointof the resilient locking arms 21 and the inner edge of the through hole201 is gradually narrowed, so that the connection of the resilientlocking arms 21 and the inner edge of the through hole 201 is firm. Gaps203 are formed between the abutted resilient locking arms 21. Thereinforcement ribs 14 are engaged in the relative gaps 203. The gaps 203are to reinforce deformation of the resilient locking arms 21, so theresilient locking arms 21 have a better resilience.

When in use, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, two sheets of material 30each have a hole 31. The two sheets of material 30 are stacked up andthe holes 31 are aligned. The base member 10 is placed at an outer sideof one sheet of material 30, and the clip member 20 is placed at anouter side of the other sheet of material 30. After that, the bucklepoint 12 of the base member 10 is inserted through the holes 31 of thetwo sheets of material 30 to couple with the clip member 20. When theclip member 20 and the base member 10 are coupled, the buckle point 12of the base member 10 extends out along the resilient locking arms 21.The resilient locking arms 21 are fitted on the buckle pin 13. The freeends of the resilient locking arms 21 lean against the engaging portion121 at the inner end of the buckle point 12 to stop the buckle point 12from sliding out along the resilient locking arms 21. In this way, thetwo sheets of material 30 are firmly fastened between the clip member 20and the buckle base 11 of the base member 10.

When the base member 10 is moved in an opposite direction relative tothe resilient locking arms 21, the buckle point 12 leans against thefree ends of the resilient locking arms 21 so that the base member 10cannot disengage from the clip member 20 so as to fix the two sheets ofmaterial 30. If it is necessary to separate the two sheets of material30, the buckle point 12 is cut off from the buckle pin 13 with a pair ofscissors, and the buckle pin 13 is pulled out in the direction oppositeto the resilient locking arms 21.

The feature of the present invention is that the clip member is providedwith the plurality of resilient locking arms which are disposed in thesame direction and the base member is provided with the buckle point.The free ends of the resilient locking arms are to lean against theinner end of the buckle point to achieve a self-locking connection ofthe base member and the clip member. The structure of present inventionis simple. When packing a product, the two sheets of material are onlyrequired to have holes. The buckle point is inserted through the holesand coupled to the clip member so as to fix the two sheets of material.When detached, the connection of the buckle point and the buckle pin iscut off so as to detach the base member from the clip member. It is easyand convenient to use and operate the present invention, without theneed to use a special apparatus. This can lower packing cost.Furthermore, the buckle pin is provided with the reinforcement ribs toenhance the connection of the buckle base and the buckle pin, such thatthe base member and the clip member can be connected firmly and reliablyto enhance the quality of packing. The resilient locking arms each havethe curved guide surface to cooperate the spherical buckle point, sothat the buckle point can easily slide out from the passage surroundedby the free ends of the resilient locking members. The assembly issimple and quick. Finally, the connection portion of the buckle pin isintegrally formed with the buckle point, and the width of the connectionportion is taped toward the buckle point. The width of the joint of theconnection portion and the buckle point is thinner, so that the joint ofthe buckle point and the buckle pin can be cut off to separate the basemember and the clip member.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail for purposes of illustration, various modificationsand enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not tobe limited except as by the appended claims.

1. A self-locking fastener comprising a base member and a clip member,the base member comprising a buckle base, a buckle point and a bucklepin which is connected between the buckle base and the buckle point, theclip member comprising a plurality of resilient locking arms disposedtoward one side thereof, the plurality resilient locking arms being usedto lean against an inner end of the buckle point, wherein when the clipmember is coupled to the base member, the buckle point of the basemember extends out along the resilient locking arms, the resilientlocking arms are fitted on the buckle pin, and free ends of theresilient locking arms lean against the inner end of the buckle point tostop the buckle point from sliding out along the resilient locking arms.2. The self-locking fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clipmember has a through hole, the resilient locking arms being tilted froman inner edge of the through hole toward the same side of the clipmember, the free ends of the resilient locking arms surrounding thethrough hole to define a passage for insertion of the buckle point. 3.The self-locking fastener as claimed in claim 2, wherein the resilientlocking arms each have a curved guide surface.
 4. The self-lockingfastener as claimed in claim 2, wherein the resilient locking arms aretilted in a fan-shaped configuration, and the joint of the resilientlocking arms and the inner edge of the through hole is graduallynarrowed.
 5. The self-locking fastener as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe buckle point is a sphere.
 6. The self-locking fastener as claimed inclaim 1, wherein gaps are formed between the abutted resilient lockingarms to reinforce deformation of the resilient locking arms.
 7. Theself-locking fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buckle pin hasa base portion and a connection portion which extends from the baseportion and is tapered toward the buckle point, the base portion beingintegrally formed with the buckle base, the connection portion beingconnected with the buckle point, the joint of the connection portion andthe buckle point having a width smaller than that of the buckle point,the buckle point having an engaging portion at the inner end thereof forthe resilient locking arms to lean against thereat.
 8. The self-lockingfastener as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base portion has a pluralityof reinforcement ribs extending from an outer wall thereof.
 9. Theself-locking fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base member andthe clip member are made of plastic.